Life on the Homestead

The work of a homestead varies as frequently and dramatically as our Vermont weather. Though our work is always changing, we seek to pattern our lives on the Benedictine rhythm of work, study and prayer. We are slowly learning how to live into this rhythm within the context of married and family life!

We have learned the most important thing we can do toward this end is to stay home - to literally “stead at home.” One of the key commitments in the Rule of Saint Benedict is “stability of life” - to commit to a physical place and the work of prayer, study, and labor that place supports. We are discovering firsthand the wisdom of this commitment and the gift this stability is for us, our guests and a world traumatized by displacement.

The Way of Saint Benedict

As a family, we have chosen to orient our life around the Benedictine way of following Christ – with its pillars of daily prayer, work by the labor of our hands, and study and growth in the life of body, soul and spirit.  Our hope is that this way of life can be an offering of peace, however small, to a world in tumult.  We envision ours as a working experiment of family life lived with simplicity, stewardship, and spiritual abundance that provides a joyful alternative to the dominant culture of consumerism and isolation.

In the warm season, we welcome guests to join us in silent retreat, family retreats, and individual retreats sharing in our daily rhythm of life. We also have occasional public celebrations of Holy Mass on our property, ‘domestic church’ folk-style celebrations of major Christian holy days and saints’ days.

We have been blessed to have long-term residents join us for up to a year in the past, as well as hosting a summer young adult cohort in 2023. We are not currently offering a long-term residential option. In the future, we hope to offer a summer immersion in lay contemplative life for a cohort of young adults.

Our Typical Summer Rhythm

5:00am Vigil prayer (private)

Time for solitary prayer and breakfast

6:30am Lauds Prayer

—Manual Labor or Study—

10am Terce Prayer

—Manual Labor—

12:30pm Sext Prayer; Followed by lunch

—Manual Labor—

3:00pm None Prayer

—Manual Labor or Study—

5:30pm Vespers Prayer

Dinner (private)

Evening activity/leisure

8:30pm Compline Prayer (private)